Bizarre Voyage: Summoning The Fourth Crisis

[You have been restricted from logging into the game for attacking a critical story NPC. Time remaining: 0 hours, 1 minute, 7 seconds.]

”I’ve learned my lesson, please unban me!”

Watching the lively discussion among the crowd of netizens on the forums, Niuniu wanted to cry but had no tears.

Ever since that ”Hostile Creature Life Value Perception” feature appeared, a bold idea had uncontrollably popped into his head, and he had actually acted on it...

Then he was kicked offline by the Candlekeeper and banned for a full day.

The worst part was, he couldn’t even post on the forums!

It was the most terrifying solitary confinement imaginable.

Niuniu was so anxious he was scratching his head and pacing in circles. He could only watch helplessly as Li Miao, Faraway, and the others explored the new map and posted their thoughts, making his heart itch with impatience as if ants were crawling all over him.

He tried to contact the official Spirit Candle support but was told he just had to wait for the timer to run out.

’Was this Candlekeeper one of the Celestial Dragon People?’

An NPC who could actually kick a player offline... that was so fucking absurd...

Niuniu spent the night stewing in frustration and regret.

During that time, he tried playing other games, but nothing felt interesting. In the end, he managed to kill time by playing Plants vs. Zombies.

”Finally... it’s finally time!”

Tears of joy streamed down Niuniu’s face.

’If heaven gave me another chance, I would definitely be utterly respectful to Lord Candlekeeper!’

This time, he had truly learned his lesson!

This led to the first thing he did upon entering the game: offering a solemn and devout apology before the Spirit Candle.

”O great Lord Candlekeeper, I apologize for my previous foolish actions. I swear on my honor...”

As soon as he entered the game, Niuniu started making all sorts of promises, mumbling on and on.

This left a new player who had just logged in nearby completely stunned.

’The guides didn’t say you had to chant scriptures before playing this game, did they?’

...

Luo Ge didn’t care about Niuniu’s change of heart. He hadn’t banned Niuniu because he was angry; something like this wasn’t worth his anger.

Players were just like that. As long as a creature could show a Blood Bar, these guys would be audacious enough to try and get a couple of stabs in...

Unlimited Resurrections gave them confidence, and game mechanics were their tools, which was why they were so unscrupulous and dared to try anything.

It was, without a doubt, a double-edged sword.

If he didn’t have enough strength to control them, he’d most likely be treated as some old boss to be farmed for Gold Coins...

Luo Ge, naturally, had no such worries.

With the Spirit Candle in hand, forget about rebellious types like Niuniu. Even psychologically twisted players who hacked and slashed their way through everything would have to lower their heads and respectfully call him ”Lord Candlekeeper” if they wanted to survive in this world...

The reason he had punished Niuniu so severely was, of course, to make an example of him.

His goal having been achieved, he naturally paid it no more attention.

Now, he had to focus on increasing the number of Xiaojuncais.

There were only ninety-something players, and most of them were newbies. It was far from time for him to harvest the Xiaojuncais.

...

”Exile Island, here I come!”

”I am Monkey D. Luffy, the man who will become the Candle Spirit King!”

”I am Naruto Uzumaki, the man who will become the Naruto!”

”Ghana~”

”Mambo~”

”...”

The guide provided by the vanguard team quickly took effect. A chattering crowd of players—a motley crew who didn’t have to work—arrived at the Spirit Fire Harbor, used their accumulated Wax Oil to buy Spirit Fire Rafts, and set off toward the Gray Mist.

Among them, naturally, were Niuniu and the Storyteller, who was also a newbie.

”Dude, it’s after nine. Don’t you have work?”

”Strictly speaking, this is my job. I’m looking for material and inspiration.”

”Material... Holy crap! Are you that Granny Pig from that shabby video site? The Storyteller who digs into the backstories of all the big games?”

”More or less,” the Storyteller said with a shrug.

Niuniu was stunned.

’No wonder this guy, a newbie who just joined, was able to compile information and post a guide. Turns out he’s a professional.’

This was a pleasant surprise for Niuniu, and he quickly struck up a conversation with the Storyteller.

Of course, since they were in the world of Spirit Candle, their conversation naturally turned to the game itself.

”...Speaking of which, the Candlekeeper NPC has way too much authority, right? Banning me for a whole day... He’s even more of a Celestial Dragon than the Celestial Dragon People in Pirate King.”

”I feel like he can hear me even if I curse him out right here...”

Niuniu couldn’t help but start complaining again.

”...” thought Luo Ge, who was currently perceiving the players.

The Storyteller couldn’t help but chuckle at his words. ”Big brother, the game’s officials have made it clear—on the forums, in the tutorial, and even in the CG—that he’s a critical character strongly tied to the progression of the entire game’s plot.”

”Besides, he’s the only NPC in the entire game you can communicate with right now. For you to dare attack him under these circumstances, I have to say, you’re a real warrior.”

”If this were ancient times, you might have been a Chen Sheng or Wu Guang type.”

The Storyteller finished by teasing him for his rebellious act.

Hearing this, Niuniu just rubbed his nose and chuckled sheepishly.

’It’s true, I knew all that, of course, but I just couldn’t resist trying...’

”Oh, right. Since you make videos about game backstories and stuff, have you made any special discoveries?”

”Like... the Candlekeeper’s origin, the Spirit Candle’s origin, the origin of Candle Island, that kind of thing?”

Niuniu couldn’t help but ask.

He just had a flighty mind and dared to experiment; his thought process was completely different from the Storyteller’s detective-like mindset.

”I haven’t found the answers to those big questions at this stage, but I have noticed a few small related details.”

The Storyteller shook his head as he spoke.

”Oh?” Niuniu’s eyes lit up, and he asked expectantly, ”What small details?”

”The Candlekeeper... might be a Candle Spirit Body, just like us.”

”Huh?”

Niuniu was a little shocked, but also confused. ”How did you deduce that?”

The Storyteller was a bit speechless at this and gave him a slightly disdainful look. ”Did you not see the Candlekeeper turn into Wax Oil and enter the Spirit Candle?”

”...I did see that, but...” Niuniu was still puzzled. ”That doesn’t prove he’s exactly like us, does it? After all, the game’s setting has supernatural powers. What if he’s a more High Level life form or something?”

”That’s why I said ’might’,” the Storyteller replied, exasperated. ’This Niuniu guy isn’t dumb, but sometimes he feels so one-track-minded.’

”Okay, but what’s so noteworthy about that?” Niuniu still didn’t quite follow the Storyteller’s line of thought.

”Hehe, that’s where you’re wrong...”

The Storyteller gave a mysterious smile.

Niuniu looked at him with an expectant face, hoping to hear some secret lore or something.

But the latter simply put his left hand behind his back, took out his Wooden Staff with his right, and waved it around, feigning profundity. He said leisurely, ”If you want to know what happens next, you’ll have to wait for the next analysis...”

Niuniu’s face turned green.